Alternative histories always provide good value and this innovative new real-time strategy features a "what if" scenario involving the outbreak of a conventional war at the end of the Cold War and a Soviet invasion of the U.S. Although the game goes to some effort to make this seem as plausible as possible it’s also worth noting that the developers admit the plot is heavily influenced by 1984 Patrick Swayze non-classic Red Dawn. The game itself is similar to the popular Ground Control series, which the same team also worked on, although it features no base building or resource management, instead concentrating solely on combat and tactics. As such you can choose your weapons and equipment before a mission as well as whether you will play the role of infantry, air power, support or ground armour. Each of these four roles comes with their own specialized units, as well as tactical aids such as airstrikes, paratroopers and even tactical nuclear weapons.
Graphically the game is hugely impressive; with superb lighting effects and dozens of units on screen at once. The most important visual feature though is the completely destructible 3D battlefields which are slowly demolished by shells and explosions over the course of a level. Skyscrapers and whole forests can be annihilated in a short order, emphasising the game’s grim sense of apocalyptic doom. The fully featured multiplayer can be played online by up to 16 people and allows you to take control of Soviet, American and NATO forces in head-to-head or team based battles. There’s already a number of innovative new real-time strategy games scheduled for 2007 but this is certainly looking like one of the best.
HARRISON DENT